Year in Preview: Beautification

No construction will be visible on 18th Street South, but city planning will be underway for a beautification project on the road leading from downtown Homewood to Birmingham city limits.

Ward 1 Rep. Britt Thames said that grants are being received for the $1.2 million project, which will take place over two years. Engineering will take place in 2016, and construction is planned for 2017.

“Most likely, unfortunately, there’s not going to be any tangible signs [in 2016],” Thames said. “We’re not going to anticipate any dirt being moved.”

The finished project will add landscaping, sidewalks, crosswalks and possible extra parking along 18th Street from the downtown shops to the end of Homewood’s city limits. Due to state and local grants, the city will only pay $240,000 of the total price tag.

While construction will not begin, Thames said residents will have a chance to share their thoughts. He anticipates having community meetings for downtown business owners and residents to review plans for the beautification project and ask questions.

“We would like to have some community involvement meetings similar to what we did leading up to the West Homewood plan,” Thames said.